Kiwi 'Can' (Himitangi) Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

RachelsRiffRaff: The 'can' has gone, and the area has gotten a bit seedy, and maintenance is a bit of an issue for us for a while, so the better thing to do is archive it. We hope everyone enjoyed it.

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Hidden : 10/19/2012
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:


Kiwi 'Can'


No, its not a kiwi branded can of fizzy/soft drink/soda. It’s a euphemism for that most basic of human functions. So….time for a little Culture.

Alternatives for The ‘Can’ are, the head, the john, the crapper, commode, toilet, WC or Water Closet, the throne, the convenience, the bog, the outhouse, the loo, the big white telephone, the dunny, the lav, the potty, the privvy, the latrine, the khazi, the bathroom, the ladies room, the restroom, the powder room.

Whichever term you use, we all know that ‘when you gotta go, you gotta go’. So if you’re coming from Sanson and can’t wait until ‘Water Loo’ further down the Himitangi/Foxton straight, or you’re coming from Foxton and thought you could make it to Sanson (but can't), then this is the stop for you.

You can remove the cache and take to the picnic table if you’re alone or to the car to do your swaps privately. Please ensure the cache is covered well.

What is the origin of the word 'loo'?
There are several theories about the origin of this informal British term for a toilet. The first, and most popular, is that it derived from the cry of 'gardyloo' (from the French regardez l'eau 'watch out for the water'), which was shouted by medieval servants as they emptied chamber pots out of upstairs windows into the street. This is historically problematic, since by the time the term 'loo' is recorded, the expression 'gardyloo' was long obsolete.

A second theory is that the word derives from a polite use of the French term le lieu ('the place') as a euphemism. Unfortunately, documentary evidence to support this idea is lacking.

A third theory refers to the trade name 'Waterloo', which appeared prominently displayed on the iron cisterns in many British outhouses during the early 20th century. This is more credible in terms of dates, but corroborating evidence is still frustratingly hard to find. Various other colourful theories also circulate, involving references to doors numbered '00' or people called 'Looe'.

Why the toilet is Sometimes Called a “John”
The term is thought to derive from Sir John Harrington who was one of the 102 god-children of Queen Elizabeth I. To make a long story short, he devised Britains first flushing toilet. One was installed in his home and later one was made for the queen around 1596. The device worked by pulling a cord that would allow water to rush in from the “water closet”, which would flush away the waste.

The term “restroom” has American roots, first appearing in the early 20th century. It comes from the notion of “rest” referring to “refreshing” one’s self.

The term “lavatory” also derives from the Latin “lavare”, although this time through the Middle Latin variation “lavatorium”, meaning “washbasin”. This popped up in English around the late 19th century.

The term “crapper” derives from the company name “Thomas Crapper & Co Ltd”, which made toilets in Britain. American soldiers in WWI stationed in England found this humurous because of the play on words with the previously existing term “crap” and so began calling the toilet “the crapper”.

The 1960 movie “Pyscho” is thought to be the first movie where a toilet is shown being flushed. The momentous flushing took place just before Janet Leigh’s character takes a shower and subsequently gets stabbed to death.
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Hazards: looks like an electric fence on the paddock close to the cache – take care
Parking: safe parking off the road - leaving SH1 is safer if coming from Foxton to Sanson
Activity: depends on whether someone else is parked there or not
Dog Friendly: alright for taking Fido for a ride in the car, but leave him in the car due to high-speed traffic going past
Stroller Friendly: nowhere to stroll to really
Wheelchair Friendly: not really
Kids: a small space with picnic tables but be very careful with high-speed traffic going past
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Three engineering students were gathered together discussing the possible designers of the human body. One said, "It was a mechanical engineer." Just look at all the joints." Another said, "No, it was an electrical engineer. The nervous system has many thousands of electrical connections." " The last one said, "Actually it was a civil engineer. Who else would run a toxic waste pipeline through a recreational area?"
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We love reading your comments about how you enjoyed the cache, (or suggested improvements) and request that if possible that you list incoming and outgoing swaps, as it helps us gauge when maintenance is necessary. Just remember to make your trade of equal or greater value and perhaps add a photo or two of your adventure. Enjoy! Cheers

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gva

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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